Method of storing razor to minimize likelihood of contracting MRSA

ABSTRACT

A method to store a razor minimizes the likelihood that MRSA and other bacteria will propagate by suspending, in a stand, the razor spaced above the surface of a counter to maximize the drainage of water from the razor and to minimize the collection of water in areas intermediate the razor and other surfaces.

This invention relates to razors.

More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for storing a razor.

The organism Staphylococcus aureus is common and is found on the skin of many individuals. MRSA (i.e., methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) refers to Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. If MRSA enters the body via a cut or the lungs, the resulting infection can be serious, and deadly. While MRSA can be treated with the infusion of large quantities of antibiotics, the antibiotics themselves present a threat in that they can cause bodily organs to shut down. Consequently, it is highly advisable to take reasonable steps to avoid contracting MRSA.

It is not uncommon for an individual to cut himself or herself while shaving. The site of the cut is typically moist, due to bleeding and to water that is utilized before and after shaving. Consequently, the cut presents an opportunity for MRSA to enter the body. This risk is increased because after shaving, a razor typically is placed on a cabinet shelf or leaned against a cabinet wall or other object. Water from the razor head is transferred to the cabinet surfaces, along with any bacteria that might reside in the razor head. As a result, sites at which razors are stored tend, along with the razors, to become breeding and transmission grounds for bacteria. Over time, such bacteria can possibly become resistant to alcohol and other chemical components found in soap and shaving creams. This is particularly the case with respect to razors that are utilized more than once. And, even the so-called disposable razors are typically utilized more than once.

Many people are unaware of how common MRSA is, of how deadly MRSA can be, and of the potentially fatal effect of administering large quantities of antibiotics. In addition, shaving is typically viewed as a relatively innocuous necessity of everyday life. The practice, however, of placing a wet razor on a particular surface day-after-day promotes the growth of bacteria, bacteria which can be transferred to the hands of a user and then to a wound that is touched by the user. Bacteria can be transferred to the hands of a user when the user replaces an old cartridge or razor blade with a new one, or, if the user is attempting to remove stubble from a blade or cartridge.

Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for storing a razor to minimize the likelihood that MRSA or other bacteria will reside or be transferred to the razor and, subsequently, be transferred into a cut generated while shaving, or existing before shaving is undertaken.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for shaving.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method to store a razor to minimize the likelihood that bacteria and other microbes will reside on the razor or on bathroom surfaces contacted during use of the bathroom.

These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a shaving stand, razor, and brush constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating operatively associated portions of the stand, razor, and brush of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view illustrating operatively associated portions of the razor and stand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view illustrating the head of the razor stand of the invention; and,

FIG. 5 is a section view illustrating a portion of the head of the invention that is used to receive, seat, and secure the end of a razor.

Briefly, in accordance with the invention, I provide an improved method of shaving to reduce the risk of propagation of microbes. The method comprises the steps of providing a razor having a first blade containing end and a second beveled end tapering toward the first blade containing end; and, providing a razor stand. The razor stand has a base, has a head with an opening including a beveled surface shaped and dimensioned to conform to the second end of the razor such that the second end seats in the opening, and has a neck shaped such that the first blade containing end is suspended above and spaced apart from the base when the second end is seated in the opening. The method additionally comprises the steps of shaving; and, seating the second end in the opening to suspend said first blade containing end below said second end and spaced apart from and above the base.

Turning now the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustration thereof, and not by way of limitation of the invention, and in which like characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates a razor stand generally indicated by reference character 10 and including a base 23, a head 11, and a vertically oriented neck 24 interconnecting the head 11 and base 23. The material utilized to manufacture stand 10 can vary as desired, but metal or glass are presently preferred because they often are less porous than a polymer or other material and are easier to sterilize and are less likely to host bacteria.

Head 11 includes upper surface 21 and a C-shaped opening 40 provided with a canted, beveled surface 15 and cylindrical surface 22.

Razor 12 includes first blade-containing end 18 interconnected by handle 13 to a second end 14. Second end 14 includes a conically shaped surface 16 that tapers toward end 18. Surface 16 is shaped to be received by opening 40 such that a section of surface 16 conforms to and seats against beveled surface 15 and such that the upper surface 20 is, preferably but not necessarily, flush with the upper surface 21 of head 11. Ideally, the only part of end 14 that contacts head 11 is the section of portion 16 that conforms to and seats against surface 15. This minimizes the surface area of razor 12 that can contact the razor stand 10. If desired, surface 22 can be shaped and dimensioned to contour to and contact and support surface 16. It is, however, presently preferred that surface 16 only contact beveled surface 15 of opening 40.

When end 14 is removably seated in opening 40 against surface 15, end 18 is suspended in the air above and spaced apart from base 23.

Handle 34 of brush 30 interconnects end 31 and bristle end 33 of brush 30. A second opening 32 is formed in head 11 and also includes a beveled surface 45 (FIG. 4) that is shaped and dimensioned to conform to a section of tapered conical surface 35 of end 31. When end 31 is removably seated in opening 32 against the beveled surface 45 in opening 32, bristle end 33 is suspended in the air above and spaced apart from base 23.

One important object of the invention is to suspend in air substantially all of a razor, including the handle and head of the razor. This facilitates drainage of water from the razor and drying of the razor to reduce the growth of bacteria on the razor. Another important feature of the invention is to minimize the size of area contacted by the razor in order to minimize surface-to-surface contact areas where bacteria may breed. Both of these objects are furthered by suspending the razor upside down by the end of the handle, and by cradling the handle in a conforming beveled area that minimizes contact between the razor and razor stand.

Water falling from the razor may contact, each day, the base 23 of the razor stand, but this area normally will dry quickly and, further, is rarely touched by a user. In fact, the stand as a whole is rarely touched by a user. The user instead grasps the razor by the handle 13 to remove and mount the razor from and on the stand 10, respectively.

The width W of beveled area 15 is relatively small and is in the range of 0.125 inch to 1.00 inch, preferably in the range of 0.125 to 0.500 inch, and most preferably in the range of 0.125 to 0.250 inch.

The current diameter D of opening 40 is 0.640 inch, and the width W of beveled area 15 is 0.225 inch. The current diameter D2 of opening 32 is 1.325 inch and the width W2 of beveled area 45 is 0.375 inch. The distance Y between fingers 46, 47 is 0.585 inch and the distance Y2 between fingers 48 and 49 is 1.235 inch. Distances Y and Y2 are sufficiently less than the diameters of openings 40 and 32, respectively, in order to retain the ends of razor 12 and brush 30 in openings 40 and 32, respectively.

In FIG. 5, circular edge 42 lies in a plane that is perpendicular to side 41. Side 41 presently is normal to the ground or to the top of a counter or table on which stand base 23 sets. The angle X (FIG. 4) between surface 15 and side 41 (or between surface 15 and a vertical line or plane in the event that side 41 is not normal to the ground) is in the range of three degrees to eighty-seven degrees, preferably ten degrees to eighty degrees. The angle between surface 45 and the vertical is similarly in the range of three degrees to eighty-seven degrees, preferably ten degrees to eighty degrees. By way of example and not limitation, the angle X between surface 51 and the vertical is presently thirteen degrees, and the angle between surface 45 and the vertical is presently twenty-seven and one-half degrees. It is critical that surfaces 15 and 45 be canted with respect to the vertical and conform to and contact and support opposing beveled surfaces on razor 12 and brush 30.

In use, an individual removes brush 30 from stand 10 and utilizes brush 30 to apply lather to the area to be shaved. Alternatively, shaving cream from a can or other source can be utilized. Brush 30 is rinsed and returned to stand 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 with end 31 cradled and seated in opening 32 of head 11, and with surface 36 of end 31 substantially flush with upper surface 21 of head 11.

Razor 12 is removed from stand 10 and is utilized to shave. After shaving is completed, end 18 is rinsed or cleaned in water or another liquid, and razor 12 is returned to stand 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 with end 14 seated and cradled in opening 40 of head 11 and surface 20 substantially flush with upper surface 21 of head 11.

Importantly, the flush mounting of surfaces 20 and 36 with respect to surface 21 tends to minimize the amount of water that collects between the razor 12 and stand 10 and that contacts surface 21 and tends to maximize the amount of water that drains down handle 13, furthering the objective of the invention of promoting drainage and minimize breeding areas for MRSA and other microbes. This objective is furthered because when end 14 seats flush, or substantially flush, with surface 21, a user tends to secure razor 12 on stand 10 by grasping the middle (and not the top) of handle 13 and inserting end 14 in opening 40. The user avoids grasping end 14 because grasping the end 14 to insert razor 12 in opening 40 in stand 10 tends to cause the user's fingers to be pinched between end 14 and head 11. 

1. A method of shaving to reduce the risk of propagation of microbes, comprising the steps of (a) providing a razor having a first blade containing end and a second beveled end tapering toward said first blade containing end; (b) providing a razor stand having (i) a base, (ii) a head with an opening including a beveled surface shaped and dimensioned to conform to said second end of said razor such that said second end seats in said opening, (iii) a neck shaped such that said first blade containing end is suspended above and spaced apart from said base when said second end is seated in said opening; (c) shaving with said razor; and, (d) seating said second end in said opening to suspend said blade containing end below said second end and spaced apart from and above said base. 